Looks like you and I posted the same thread. I just posted one in General. I'll go lock it.

ETA: This reminds me of the 1996 Olympic bombing. Not many casualties, but enough to make people scared.

Fox is reporting 3 dead, 10 pts at MA General with limbs missing with more casualties coming in. They're searching all the trash cans and surrounding neighborhoods.

So far, it appears to be 2 home made bombs made with ball bearings.

ETA again: Apparently the bomber wasn't targeting the first finishers, but the ones who would come along later in the afternoon, in order to kill as many as possible. That's what I've been hearing on the news. They also found another device apparently, so they'll be disposing of that one.

What is wrong with people?! What kind of sick X($&* thinks that's okay?! There's a special place in hell for people like that.

On the positive side, EMTs & cops are fixtures at marathons for safety reasons, so at least there wasn't a delay with the first responders. Hopefully that saved some lives which otherwise might have been lost.

I just spoke with my sister. Her husband and sons were at mile 18 so they are safe. One of their friends, a 25 year old teacher, was at the finish line when the explosion happened. He has a head injury and a punctured ear drum but the rest of him is intact. He saw people who had lost body parts. It is just horrible.

I am heartbroken for the entire city of Boston and all the many surrounding communities. Patriot's Day (today)en.wikipedia.org . . . is a big deal there. All the schools are closed, everyone celebrates. There will never be another Patriot's Day for any of them that will not be tinged with the horrible memories of this hateful day.

It feels like September 11th all over again. These two nephews lived right outside of NYC when they were small and lost 6 neighbors in the attacks. My sister and her husband had friends who were on the Boston flight that hit the WTC. I can't begin to imagine the flash backs they are experiencing right now. On one hand, they are so grateful to be safe at home. On the other... they know what the days to come will hold. Sadness, fear, doubt... another part of their kids' childhood has been stolen.

I send my very best wishes for strength and courage to everyone who lives in the area. In an odd kind of way, I felt that the days that followed 9/11 were some of the most loved filled days of goodwill for everyone. I hope everyone in Massachusetts experiences this kind of comfort and support from the rest of the nation in the days to come.

I heard earlier on the news that there may some radical groups responsible. I wonder if there may be some radical group using the Boston Marathon as a venue to protest about the gun control debate.

I don't think there is any thing other than pure evil behind this. The cowards who committed this crime may believe there was a "reason" but there could be none. Tim McVeigh had a whole load of stupid stuff he spewed, too, but he killed how many children sleeping in their cribs? en.wikipedia.org . . . Sadly,part of the marathon was dedicated to the children who were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. dailycaller.com . . .

In an emergency situation like this, try to use wifi to email or try to get to a computer and email or facebook your loved ones. When cell phone service goes down, many people can forget that email is a viable communication tool. Also, Yahoo chat has a text to phone option. Or try to find a landline phone. This is one reason I still keep my landline, even though some months I feel like I'm wasting my money.

I cannot fathom what would motivate someone to do something like this.

My loved ones in Boston are okay, thank the gods. I can't begin to fathom what drives people to do things like this.

I do want to say a couple of things though, and I'm SO not trying to turn this into a rant, but I'm seeing these things all over. One, try not to speculate too much. Right now, the most important thing is making sure Boston has the support it needs. Donate to the red cross. If you can't, take a moment to sit quietly and pray or meditate or send out good energy to Boston. I truly believe in the power of good thought. There are professionals, well-trained in these things, that are working hard to get to the bottom of this. Saying it's this or that is just stirring up negativity and not helping anyone.

Two, try to avoid slacktivism. Again, donate to the red cross. Actually take a moment to reflect and pray. Join a vigil at your church, if that's what feels right to you. Keep following the news in Boston and in your community to see what volunteer efforts there are that you might be able to get involved in. Begin training for the next Boston Marathon! At the least, take a moment to appreciate life and how tenuous it is, and tell your loved ones you love them. I'm sorry, but posting a facebook status about how sad you are (especially, as is the case with my newsfeed, when you post a picture an hour later of the milkshake you're drinking...)isn't actually going to help anyone, and it's one of my GREATEST pet peeves.

I've just heard that that 2 of the injured and one of the deceased were part of the Irish dancing family. His sister lost one or both of her legs, mom had a serious head injury and little martin was killed.

Senseless crap like this doesn't need to happen to children. They were there to cheer on their father. It was to be a happy moment.

Posting on facebook is a normal response to something like this. I'm GLAD that there is a forum (ha like this one) that my friends and I can post about our sorrow. I think it would be really strange if my feed was completely devoid of comments on Boston.

I just read the story of the little boy who was killed and what happened to his family. Am heartbroken.